by Alice Bastable, LiveLighter Victoria Campaign Manager and Dietitian

popsicles

Picture this: It's a crazy hot day. You're exhausted, the kids won't stop whinging about the heat, and now they're pestering you for the refreshing, super-sweet icy pole that all their friends are having.

Do you:

A) Say no, because most icy poles are full of added sugar or

B) Give in because, well, it's hot (and you secretly want one too).

We have some refreshing news! We've found the healthiest icy poles available at Woolies and Coles, so you can say "yes", with a little less sugar.

LiveLighter's top icy pole picks

Some icy poles contain 5 teaspoons or more of sugar in one hit – but not this bunch! They boast fruity flavours, minus the added sugar of most icy poles:

Kisco juice pops
Less than 2g of sugar (0.4 teaspoons) in each freezy. Provided you’re not having an entire pack in one sitting, they’re not a bad option on a hot day.

kisko juice pops.

Berri Quelch
With no added sugar, 99% fruit juice and less than 7g of sugar (1.7 teaspoons) per serving, they’re a great less sugary option.

Berri quelch

Proud & Punch; packham pear, blood orange and strawberry

Just 7.6g of sugar (1.9 teaspoons), which is only a little more than a whole pear.

Proud and punch

Check out the full analysis of products done in summer 2019 over here.

What to look for in an icy pole

Go past the flashy promise of ‘real fruit’ ingredients and read the ingredient list and nutrition information panel. We recommend choosing lower sugar options ie. less than 15g of sugar per 100g.

The World Health Organization recommends kids limit their added sugar intake to 3 to 6 teaspoons per day (12.5g to 25g) – with some of these iced products containing a whopping 20g (or 5 teaspoons) of added sugar, kids could be maxing out their daily limit in one hit!

If one of the healthier varieties isn't available (or acceptable), go for something in a small serving size. This could be a "mini" popsicle, or a frozen treat where you can control the portion (eg. from a tub).

For the healthiest approach, make your own

For icy treats that are full of fruit and have no added sugar, try whipping some up yourself. They're healthier, cheaper and packed with whole fruit, so they contain plenty of fibre. We've got a bunch of popsicle and sorbet recipes over here, or you could get creative with the kids in the kitchen. We'd love to hear about your favourite flavour combos!